Tuesday, April 22, 2014

RICHMOND — Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that construction of the I-95 Express Lanes project is more than 70 percent complete, and remains on-schedule to be completed by the end of 2014 and open to traffic in early 2015. The first of nine new bridges being built along the 95 Express Lanes corridor in Northern Virginia, located at Telegraph road near Marine Corps Base Quantico in Stafford County, recently opened to traffic. Steel framework on the remaining new bridges also is complete.

“The progress on the 95 Express Lanes project is a visible reminder of the congestion relief and new travel choices that Virginians will have available to them in less than a year,” commented McAuliffe. “The project has also benefited jobs and business opportunities, particularly for women- and minority-owned businesses as well as small businesses. Steel work was completed by a local disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), Interlock Steelworkers, Inc., exemplifying the Commonwealth’s commitment to providing business opportunities that support jobs and generate economic growth.

To date, the project has infused more than $127 million into the local economy through DBE and small, women, and minority-owned businesses (SWaM). With nearly $193 million committed to more than 131 DBE/SWaM firms so far, the Virginia Department of Transportation and its 95 Express Lanes partners, Transurban and Fluor, are slated to exceed their DBE/SWaM project goals of $189 million.

During the remainder of 2014, crews will continue to build-out the new lanes, while installing and testing new overhead signs, tolling gantries and other traffic management equipment. Other critical work includes constructing new sound walls to provide noise reductions to qualifying adjacent communities; building storm water management ponds; and completing final work on barriers, guardrails, paving and roadways.